McLaren rookie Lewis Hamilton celebrated his first Formula One victory on Sunday, winning the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal and taking an eight point lead in the world championship.

Starting in pole position, the 22-year-old Briton became the first black driver to win a grand prix and the first rookie since Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya for Williams in 2001.

"This is a fantastic day, this is historic," said Hamilton, the only Formula One driver who made six straight podium finishes in his debut season.

"I knew I was ready for something, it was just a matter of where and when," added the Briton.

"The next dream is to win the Formula One world championship. But we have to be realistic and remember this is my rookie year."

German Nick Heidfeld was second for BMW Sauber with Austrian Alex Wurz of Williams taking third place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where he made his debut a decade ago.

Hamilton leads the championship with 48 points, eight clear of team mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso who finished seventh after a miserable afternoon for the Spaniard.

In an incident packed race, Ferrari's title contender Felipe Massa and Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella were disqualified while BMW's Polish driver Robert Kubica was taken to hospital.

The safety car was deployed four times.

Hamilton gained the upper hand over Alonso at the first turn when the Spaniard ran wide, sped over the grass and found himself stuck behind Heidfeld in third place.

Alonso later received a 10 second penalty for entering the pit after the safety car had come out and his dismal day was completed when he was overtaken by Japanese driver Takuma Sato's Super Aguriwith two laps remaining.

Sato finished sixth, behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in fifth and Renault's Finnish rookie Heikki Kovalainen in fourth. Germany's Ralf Schumacher took the final point for Toyota.

Kubica was taken to hospital after his BMW hit a Toyota on lap 27. His manager said the Pole was conscious and stable, but one unconfirmed television report said the driver had broken a leg.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2007)